We say the phrase all the time - Take a kid fishing.  This past Saturday, we raised the bar and took it to a whole new level.  Instead of taking a kid fishing, we took about 40.  Thanks to the help of many volunteers and the Waconia Lions Club, we were able to bring joy to many young anglers that would normally not have the opportunity.  Judging by their smiles at the end of the day, it was a success.

This is not the first year of the Waconia 'take a kid fishing day,' in fact, I remember my father being a part of it when I was very young.  He brought me fishing and a couple of other kids too.  I remember it as a fun outing where I got to do my favorite thing, fish, and some other kids got to come too.  Fast forward 17 years to the present, and I am blessed to have opportunities to teach and take people fishing on a regular basis.  Remembering the trip that I shared many years ago,  I jumped when the call came looking for more volunteers. 

The jist of the day goes something like this.  Local parents sign up with the Waconia Lions Club to bring their kids to the lake.  A large group of volunteers are gathered and local companies kick in some product to give to the kids.  The morning of the event, volunteers gather at the In Towne Marina and get everything ready to roll.  Boats, bait and tackle are all prepared and ready for the eager anglers.  This year we had several boaters and a couple of pontoons to accomodate the masses.  When the kids show up they are given a jiggle stick ready for action and the guides pair up with the as many kids as they can handle.  Some boats have several volunteers and several kids.  Since I was solo, I chose two.  Then we head out for a few hours on the water.  The kids catch fish, laugh, have fun and catch more fish.  The little fish get tossed back, but the keepers come home with each boat.  A group of guys are gathered at the end and all the fish are cleaned. A lunch is prepared on shore and goodie bags are sorted out for each child to take home. 

When all is said and done each child walks away with memories of the fish they caught, the ones that got away and a bag of fillets for the frying pan.  Each angler also receives a starter kit with tons of fishing supplies and a new rod and reel combo.  With all the volunteers, we were able to spend time teaching many of the kids how to tie knots and rig up their rod and reels.  A morning on the water that will hopefully last a lifetime. 

Looking back on my past, I couldn't imagine what my life would be like if somebody wouldn't have taken the time to teach me how to fish.  I guess it fuels my passion even more when I am put in a position to help someone else.  This is the reason why I enjoyed our morning so much, and why I encourage you to give it a try too.  It will make a difference if you 'take a kid fishing.'  Until next time, keep on livin' the dream!

Will somebody please put me out of my misery already?  Last night I hit the water and the graph read a steamy 83 degrees.  As I sit down and write this article we are a mere two days before a full moon.  Big muskies are likely on the chomp, but I wouldn't know.  It's been several weeks since I have wet a line for a metro musky.  Why?  Like many of you, I have taken the stance to put our resource before my personal desires of catching big fish.  In water this warm I don't want to put the fish at risk and take a chance at killing a trophy.  It's my prerogative, but I stand firm.  My previous article will share more about my feelings on the issue.  While I feel that I am making a valued commitment to the resource, it doesn't make the waiting game any easier.  I haven't made a single cast, and it's killing me. 

To pass the time I've been changing my ways and casting for "the other fish."  Big bass have been my obsession, and I've been giving them a run for their money.  To add an element to the game, I've been fishing several new lakes.  Each trip I've been trying to crack that 5 lb mark.  Not only does it make it fun to fish for the bass, it also adds another element to a sport that can sometimes be simple.  In the past week I have fished 4 different bodies of water, 2 of which have been first time journeys.  Each outing I have found some different results, but one thing has constantly remained the same.  The bass are biting!

We've caught bass in Lilypads, bullrushes, cabbage, milfoil and suspended over open water.  We've caught them on bass jigs, jig worms, carolina rigs, topwater, spinnerbaits and more.  They have come in sizes big, small and in everything in between.  One thing I've learned about bass fishing in the hot summer sun is that anything will bite a bass lure.  While the bass have at times been jumping in the boat, we've also hooked a ton of toothy pike, a nice tiger musky, a few walleyes and some panfish too.  Not to mention the always eager lake Waconia Sheepshead.

I've had the opportunity to guide some newcomers to the Minnetonka Bass scene.  The ins and outs of the bass strategies on the Tonka weed edges and places to find them. I've found that this has taught me a lot about the sport that I have forgotten or never knew.  I have had 4 new anglers in my boat and 4 others that I haven't fished with in months.  It's been a sweet time with great people and great memories.  As I look back over the last few weeks I can say that I have enjoyed every minute.  It has been this time away that really makes me appreciate the sport of muskie fishing.  An appreciation that is driving me nuts while I wait.  Which is why I plan on taking my game north.  And I hope to do this very soon!  For all of you that have given the muskies a break over this warm water period, I say thank you.  The waiting is almost over.  Until then, keep on livin' your dream!

In the sport of muskie fishing there are two things that don't mix.  Hot water temperatures and big fish.  As an avidly obsessive muskie angler, I find nothing more gut wrenching than to come across my favorite fish floating on the surface.  Sadly, this has been an all too common occurance as of late.  My home waters in the metro have reached surface temps in the 80's.  A number that I have vowed as being too high to fish.  I have put the big rods away, and until things cool down, they won't come back out.  As a fellow musky fisherman, I am asking for you to do the same.

I know that there are no laws being broken and I have no right to do this, but I ask this anyway.  In a growing sport that has more anglers than fish, I think it is only fair for us to consider the resource before our very needs.  The fact that my livelihood has been put on hold and I have cancelled all of my muskie guide trips until it cools down should tell you where I stand on this issue.  If we think that we have no effect on the overall resource of our lakes, then we are wrong.  The truth is that we are recycling the fish with proper catch and release, and the current water conditions are making this a tough task to correctly do.

Here are a few things to consider when it comes to hot water and muskie fishing.  A muskie will battle to death when they are hooked.  This is no secret.  Having a good gameplan ensures that they are quickly put in the net, unhooked, measured and released before they fight too long.  When a muskie goes into battle they give it their all.  Similar to a human going from a resting position to running a 2 mile sprint.  Consider this anaology in that at the end of the 2 mile sprint, someone dunks your head under the water for 45 seconds.  While this might seem dramatic, it might be a fair comparison to what takes place when we battle a muskie.  Now consider doing this exercise in extremely hot temperatures.  I think you get my point.

Some other things to consider is the oxygen level in hot water.  I'm not a biologist, but research has shown that oxygen levels decrease as the temperature rises.  When we catch a muskie, they need time to recover.  This usually occurs boatside and on the surface, which is the hottest water in the lake, with the least amount of oxygen.  During a battle, muskies build up lactic acid in their bodies, and if the conditions don't allow them to appropriately recover it ends in death.  The hardest fact to consider in this equation is that it doesn't always occur immediately.  Studies have shown that muskies caught in hot water have been released only to die days later.  A sad fate for a fish that we cherish.

While I have put an end to my muskie fishing until the temps drop, there are some things to consider if you still plan on fishing.  First, plan your trips during cooler periods.  Night fishing can cool the surface slightly.  If you do choose to fish for muskies, come extra prepared and know exactly what you will do once a fish is hooked.  Time is of the essence.  Limit the amount of time you handle the fish.  A dozen pictures with your trophy will likely result in a dead trophy - even if you watch it swim away.  If you must take a pic in hot water, then a shot of the fish in the water is the best choice.  Leaving the fish in the water is by far the best option. 

Next, fish with a friend.  I don't want to step on any toes here, but if you plan on fishing solo, I would strongly encourage you to wait a few weeks until it cools down.  Another set of hands can make a huge difference in getting the fish back in the water and on its way to a speedy release.  Plus, if a picture is what you are after, trying to do it solo is a tough chore with a struggling fish.

This should apply all year long, but especially now - once you catch and release a fish, wait around for a while to make sure the fish is doing okay.  I can't tell you how many times I have seen fish swim away and resurface a short while later.  They need time to recover and we owe it to the fish to make sure they get back on track.

Lastly, become an educator.  If you are a musky fisherman that has the opportunity to be an influence on your friends or other anglers, then you should take the time and be the difference.  Become a positive mentor for another angler who simply might not know right from wrong or proper techniques.  You would be surprised at how a few technques and ideas can positively influence an angler that has never handled a 35, 40 or even 50 inch fish.  Positive encouragement goes a long way to preserve our resources.

On a positive note, this can be the best time of the year to head north.  All reports and personal experiences have indicated a good bite happening on big time muskie lakes up north.  I'm not saying you need to spend a bunch of money, but lets be honest here.  A tank of gas is the same as 2 muskie lures and we all have way too many of them in our box to let money get in the way of our passion. 

Whatever your plan, please consider that we are responsible for the state of our muskie fishing.  I am just one of the many muskie addicts that have taken the stance to wait until the water cools down.  I think I speak for many when I ask for you to do the same.  Besides, the wait will be over before we know it and the fishing will only get better.  Until the temps cool, catch a bass, a bluegill or a catfish, just keep on livin' your dream!

Sometimes they come easy...and then there are the others.  In  muskie fishing, it's often the latter.  I usually don't like to talk about the "ones that got away," but this story has a happy ending so it's worthy of sharing.

To make a long story short and get to the good parts, I'll recap and get to the point.  I've been craving Mille Lacs muskies for the past two weeks.  Hot water temps in the metro have limited my muskie desire around home to nil.  With big fish on the brain, I've had three opportunities at the big girls on the big pond.  The first time came a few weeks back with first time Mille Lacs muskie junkies, Ben Brettingen and Eric Wolf.  The action came fast and occured often, but after 4 hours of fishing, we found ourselves with 8 encounters and nothing in the net.  A night outing and a short morning before a storm revealed 4 fish that missed our topwater, 3 intense figure "8" opportunities and 1 hot follow that simply vanished.  A fun outing, but nothing to show for our efforts.

With all the action I was eager to return.  Fast forward to the 4th of July weekend and two new guests named Mike Ernst and Matt Hennen.  On our journey north to a Brainerd area cabin, we couldn't resist the chance to toss a few muskie baits.  Knowing we only had a short amount of time, we went right for the juggular and hit some "prime spots" that have produced countless times over the years.  Once again the action was there, and once again we had fish miss wildly on our topwater offerings.  Four to be exact.  Our 2 fishless hours on the water set things up perfectly for the climax of the story - Friday night.

It seems every time I am lucky enough to have Todd "Muskie" Mosher in the boat, good things happen.  This past friday was no exception.  Joining us was my other lucky charm, Matt Hennen for his second shot at the slimy Mille Lacs beasts.  This time we weren't on a time schedule, and this time we were going to fish until the muskies were ready to do the darn thing.  With two extremely lucky anglers in my boat, I was confident that my persistence would finally pay off.

As the sun started to fade, the conditions set themselves up for an epic night on the water.  You could feel the intensity with each cast, and for the first time in a while, I could sense that my "Muskie Mojo" had finally returned.  Todd was the first to thrash the surface with a ski.  Shortly after the lights went out, a muskie grabbed his bait boatside and took him for a wild ride.  Fortunately, for the fish, Todd was not on the winning end of the tug-o-war. 

A few moments later came our first monster sighting.  A giant appeared like a ghost in the darkness and chased Matt around the boat several times.  The fish brought the game to a whole new level.  Knowing that we were in the presence of a giant, we were all on high alert.

With the increase in activity we knew that it was only a matter of time.  A few casts after the monster appeared I was throttled on my "8".  This time the muskie ran full steam into my rod while trying to T-bone my bait.  I assure you that I was more startled than the fish, and afterwards I had to check my shorts to make sure I was still clean. 

Was it the big one?  That, I didn't know.  As I started to wonder that very thought, Todd stole the show when he hooked a beast.  A boatside strike that sent the water churning in every direction.  It was absolute chaos!  The monster threw water in every direction, and just when I thought that we had finally done it, she came unhooked and swam away.  Heartbreak was an understatement and I thought Todd was going to cry.  Deep down, I think I was too.  She was "the one" and all Todd was left with was a mangled bait.

Still, we pushed on.  Hopeful for another opportunity.  After all, it had only been an hour into the night.  As we circled our pod for another chance, I started to count up the number of fish that had recently won the battle.  In my head I was up to 16.  An astronomical amount over the last three outings.  Luckily, Matt was determined to win the boatside battle and make sure that the number didn't reach 17.  As luck would have it, we didn't have to wait very long. 

A quiet grunt and a whisper revealed a muskie beneath our feet yet again.  I guess that was his cue that he was hooked up.  This time Matt was ready for the boatside game and this time he took the bull by the horns.  As I turned my headlamp on, I was surprised to see a dandy being drug around the boat like a dog on a leash.  A tactic that I was hoping to see when a big one ate boatside.  This textbook maneauver resulted in chaos at the boat, but also Matt's first night muskie and his first one on the figure '8.'  Not to mention the end to a horrific streak of "the ones that got away."  The second the fish hit the net we exploded with excitement.  It was like a 500 lb weight had just been lifted off our shoulders.  The skunk was gone, the jinx was broken, and we had finally taken back our spot as the top predator on the food chain.  

The picture will forever retain that memory, but words cannot explain the moment the three of us shared.  As Matt released the fish back into the darkness, I patted him on the back and said "thank you for bringing my mojo back!"  Our evening ended shortly after and as we drove across the dark water I thanked the big guy up above for such an incredible opportunity to fish, persevere and succeed.  In the muskie world, persistence does pay off.  Until the next monster strikes, keep on livin' your dream!

This post might make a few of you muskie guys think less of me.  Regardless of the negative perception, I will share what I've been up to because it is what I do.  Lately, I've been taking a step back from the muskie madness and focusing on other fish.  This is typical for me each year during the heat of the summer.  I don't know what it is, but my muskie mojo seems to fade and I find interest in the "other fish" for a few days.  It's usually short-lived and I get the mojo back, but while on my muskie break I try my best to give the others a run for their money.

Monday night found myself and good friend Mike Ernst down at the WCCO studio for our Live radio show.  It's a program that I've been lucky enough to co-host numerous times each year as part of my job with Ron Schara Productions.  I was honored to have my fishing pal Mike join me in the studio and Bob Turgeon made a guest appearance to talk muskies too.  Keeping it local, I also had Jeff Byrne from Cabin Fever share some mid-summer thoughts.  Click below if you'd like to listen in...

After the show, I quickly fled home and readied myself for some river action.  The object of my affection was the fish we quoted as "the sexiest fish in the river," also known as the flathead catfish.  On a typical year we would have had numerous big cats in the boat by now.  2010 has been slightly off kilter for my group and only a handful have been boated thus far.  The reason?  The high water is causing havoc on our gameplan.  Our attempts have been few and far in between since the water cannot decide what it wants to do.  Monday night was the first time that I have ever launched a boat in the parking lot.  The water was so high that we literally had zero slope and pushed the boat off the trailer in the parking lot 35 feet short of the ramp.  As we drove out we were eye level with many of the tree branches that we normally look up to see.  When we drove over a mid-river sandbar that is typically 2 feet out of the water in June, the graph said 18 feet.  If that wasn't enough reason to leave the river, when we returned to our launch, our truck tires were only a couple of feet from the water.  Hmmm, I think there was a reason we were the only ones out there that night.  Needless to say, the gushing waters kept us from our haunts and the cats remained untouched.

Tuesday night my fishin' buddy, Matt Hennen and I went on a mission to catch whatever would bite our jigs.  The weather was spectacular, and in preparation for several upcoming multi-specie guide trips, I thought I would see what the fish were up to.  In our short time on the water we had a blast catching everything lake Waconia had to offer.  Everything except a muskie that is.  We caught bass like it was our job.  Several panfish took our baits too, and the always willing sheephead battled us like crazy. I even managed to land a nice pike before Matt caught the first walleye of the evening.  It reminded me of fishing as a kid.  You know, the fishing trips where you just go for "whatever bites." 

With our national holiday fast approaching I can't say when my muskie mojo will return.  It might be tomorrow or maybe next week.  I know many of you are thinking that I may have turned soft.  I guess it's true.  Or, maybe I'm just not that mad at the muskies right now.   As I look at my calendar I have to wonder when I'll get the attitude back.  Tonight I venture to Tonka for a bass bonanza with a father and son. Tomorrow I'm heading to Mille Lacs.  Maybe the big pond will spark my muskie interest?  Or, maybe not.  If there is one lake that can get me jacked up, it is that big piece of water so I've got my fingers crossed.  Until the mojo returns, keep on livin' your dream!